iPhone Fold: Price, Release Date, and Feature Rumours

26 March 2026

Robert Duke

The foldable phone has remained something of a curio in the smartphone world for a few years now. Samsung’s got them. Huawei’s got them. Motorola’s even brought the Razr back from the dead recently.

Apple, meanwhile, has apparently been standing at the edge of the pool, adjusting its goggles and waiting for the temperature to be just right.

So, will we finally see an iPhone Fold in 2026? And more importantly, how much will it cost to join the bendy-screen revolution? Let’s take a look at the most compelling rumours:

iPhone Fold Release Date

Apple doesn’t usually rush into new product categories. The company prefers to sit back, observe what everyone else is doing, and then arrive fashionably late with something that outdoes the competition. You could argue that strategy has worked out alright for them.

Most of the people speculating reckon that the first foldable iPhone will arrive in 2026 or 2027, although Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet.

If it does arrive this year, it’ll likely be unveiled during Apple’s usual Autumn launch event. In recent years, these have occurred on the second Tuesday in September.

Based on this, our best bet is that the iPhone Fold will be announced on Tuesday September 8th 2026.

However, because it’s a completely new device, there could be a delayed rollout, so instead of the device being available for purchase the following week, it may not reach people until November or even December.

If there is a delayed release, we reckon the iPhone Fold would be available in stores on or around December 11th 2026.

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iPhone Fold Price

Right. Deep breath.

Foldable phones are already expensive. Flagship Apple phones are already expensive. So when you combine the two, the result is pretty predictable.

The base model for the closest equivalent handset, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, starts from £1,799, and many tech insiders believe Apple’s version could be even pricier.***

Early estimates suggest the iPhone Fold might start somewhere between £1,800 and £2,200.

Yes, that is roughly the price of a decent holiday, or indeed a 07 plate Vauxhall Astra I’m looking to get rid of if anyone’s interested? (DM me).

But look on the bright side: you’ll have a phone that folds in half. That’s basically two phones. Which means it’s practically a bargain, right? (Warning: Please do not quote me on that when explaining the purchase to your partner).

iPhone Fold Design

So what might the iPhone Fold actually look like?

Most rumours suggest Apple is leaning toward a book-style fold, meaning the phone would open like the Galaxy Fold (along a vertical line) rather than the Motorola Razr (along a horizontal line).

We asked ChatGPT what it thought a 2026 iPhone Fold might look like, and this is what it came up with:

iPhone Fold on table

Not a bad effort. Closed, it would likely look like a normal iPhone. Open it up and suddenly you’ve got a mini tablet in your hands. Very handy for watching videos, editing photos, or pretending to read while listening to people argue on the tube.

Apple is also reportedly obsessed with solving one of the biggest issues with foldables: the dreaded screen crease. Leaks suggest Apple engineers are trying to design a hinge and display that minimises this.

Apple has even patented something called a self-healing display. The idea is that tiny scratches could repair themselves over time, which sounds like something that belongs in a Marvel film to us.

Other possible design features include a super thin hinge mechanism, an ultra-durable OLED display, an outer screen that works exactly like a regular iPhone, and an adamantium casing. Okay, maybe not the last one.

Features: What Could Be New?

A foldable iPhone would unlock some interesting new tricks.

The obvious one is multitasking. With a much larger internal display, you could run several apps at once, imagine watching YouTube, replying to messages and browsing the internet at the same time. Pretty neat!

The camera system will almost certainly be top tier as well. Apple tends to reserve its best hardware for its premium devices, so the iPhone Fold could feature a triple or quad lens camera system, improved optical zoom, and advanced AI photography features to match the iPhone 18.

Speaking of AI, Apple has been leaning heavily into on-device artificial intelligence, and that trend will likely continue here. Expect clever photo editing, smarter voice features, and possibly some new ways to use the larger screen for things like note taking, image generation, or productivity tools.

Battery life will also be a big focus. Foldable screens require more power, but because the devices are bigger, that can free up more space for extra juice, so it could be one of the longest-lasting iPhones of all time.

And of course, everything will tie neatly into Apple’s ecosystem, meaning you can be sure your Apple Watch, AirPods and Mac will all play nicely with your shiny new folding gadget (which is something you can’t fully guarantee with other foldables right now).

Final Thoughts: Should You Start Saving?

Foldable phones are still evolving, and Apple seems determined to wait until the technology is just right before releasing its interpretation.

If the rumours are accurate, the iPhone Fold could be one of the most ambitious devices Apple has ever made.

Will it be extremely pricey? Almost certainly. But will people still be looking to get their hands on one? Absolutely. Keep your eyes peeled for more info coming soon!

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*** Prices were correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.